Tyne and Wear Metro

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what support his Department is planning to provide for the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro from South Northumberland Park Metro station to Newsham in Blyth Valley; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: It would be for Nexus and Northumberland county council to consider whether the reopening of the railway line from Northumberland Park to Newsham either as an extension of the Metro or as a heavy rail line would be the best way to meet local and regional transport needs and to see the necessary funding, for example through the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA).